Machine for making expanded metal lathing.



N0. 639,57. Patented llec. a2, i899.

. v W. DUNCAN. MACHINE FOR MAKING EXPANDED METAL LATHING.

v (Application filed Feb. 12, 1898.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

EJQUU'QOUQQU Z77 Patented Dec. l2, I899.

W. DUNCAN.

MACHINE FOR MAKING EXPANDED METAL LATHING.

(Application filed Feb. 12, 1898.)

3 Sheets$heet 2.

(-No Model.

'nz Noam vzrzns cu, mmaumu. WASHINGTON, n. 1:.

Patented Dec. [2, I899.

W. DUNCAN.- MAGHINE FOR MAKING EXPANDED METAL LATHING.

(Application filed Feb. 12, 1898.)

3 Shaeis-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

OFFER D/E PNOYCHJFRQ. WASHINGTON n c NITED STATES PATENT FFICE.)

WILLIAM DUNCAN, OF KEARNY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO THE AMERICAN METAL LATH FIREPROOF CONSTRUCTION AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF NEIVARK, NEW JERSEY.

MACHINE FOR MAKING EXPANDED METAL LATHING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 639,157, dated December 12, 1899.

Application filed February 12, 1898. Serial No. 670,135. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM DUNoAN,a citizen of the United States, residing at Kearny,in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Making EX- panded Metallic Lathin g, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable those skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for making expand ed metallic lathing, and more particularly in machines for making a lathing such as is disclosed in Patent No. 557,658, granted April 7, 1896. The lathing disclosed in the said patent consists, primarily, of a metallic plate provided with rows of angular slits breaking joint and expanded to throw keys from opposite sides of the plate. While the invention will be described in an embodiment adapted to make such a lathing, yet it can be used to make other lathing. For an instance, it is well adapted to make a lathing having straight instead of angular slits.

The invention has further for its object certain improvements in the machine disclosed in Patent No. 594,172, granted November23, 1897. The device shown in the latter patent has certain defects which it is sought to eliminate in the invention in the present instance. In the device of the patent the dies cut a double row of slits and expand the ribs thereby formed practically simultaneously. This treatment of the metal concentrates certain strains on particular points of the metal and has thereby a tendency to tear the metal. The points where the strains are concentrated are near the ends of the slits. In the invention in the present instance this objectionable feature is eliminated.

The device in the present instance does not simultaneously cut and expand the metal to form the double row of keys. Its action is progressive, and thereby the strains on the metal are not concentrated, but are distributed, so that the tendency to tear is obviated.

The invention in the present instance con sists, primarily, ofa moving member in which a die is mounted consisting of a double row of fixed cutters and expanders, of a stationary member in which oneof the rows of cutters and expanders is fixed and the other row movable relative to the fixed row, and of a mechanism for operating the movable row, so that the latter is held in a position to perform its function in slitting the metal and then moved to allow the fixed row to successively perform its function in cutting the second row of slits and then moved further to allow the slitted metal to be expanded by a further engagement of the cutters and expanders of both members.

The invention further consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, such as will be hereinafter fully described, pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section on the line 1 1 of Fig. 2, showing the members separated. Fig. 2 is a front elevation, partly in section, of a machine embodying the invention. Fig. 3 is a side elevation. Fig. i is a rear elevation, partly in section. Fig. 5 is a view similar to thatshown in Fig. 1, except that in this instance the mem bers are closed. Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the cutters of the upper member. Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the cutters of the lower member. Fig. Sis a plan view of a section of lathing made by the machine.

Referring to the drawings by letter, A des-' ignates the side frames of any construction suitable in the'premises. The said frames are connected and held in position by the rods A. In each side frame a vertical guide A is formed. A cross-head A is mounted at its ends in said guides. Secured to the crosshead is the upper member of the dies. Projecting from the ends of the cross-head are wrist-pins A Pitmen A having their lower ends eccentrically journaled on the main driving-shaft A and their upper ends journaled on said wrist-pins, reciprocate the said cross-head. The dies A", mounted in the lower IOO while the dies are in operation.

end of the cross-head, are of the same construction as those shown in Patent No. 59 1-, 172 before mentioned.

The stationary table B is secured to the side frames A in any suitable manner. .To the back of said table are secured the fixed cutters B of the lower member of the forming mechanism. The said cutters are mounted in the holder B and the latter is adjustably secured in place by the bolts B In the side frames A, below the table, guides B are formed, in which is mounted the support B carrying the movable cutters B. The latter are mounted in the holder B and are secured therein by the screws B The support B is reciprocated by the cams B mounted on the main driving-shaft. The said cams engage with the shoes B adjustably secured to the support by the screws B and thereby move the support. By adjusting the shoes the movement of the support by the cams can be regulated.

Feed-rolls O and O are mounted in front of the forming mechanism. They are journaled at their ends in the side frames and are provided with means for intermittently moving them so that the metal will be fed forward during the separation of the dies. Secured .on the lower roll is a ratchet-wheel 0 with which a pawl O engages. A bell-crank O is pivoted on the shaft of the lower roll and carries the pawl. The bell-crank is oscillated by the pitman C with one end of which it is connected. The other end of the pitman is journaled on the wrist-pin C, adjustably mounted in a slot formed in the end of the main drivingshaft A By adjusting the wrist-pin the movement of the feed-rolls can be regulated. Motion is carried from the lower feed-roll to the upper by intermeshing gear mounted on the ends of the shafts of the rolls farthest from the ratchet-wheel C The gripper mechanism consists of the angular foot D, extending the width of the machine. The said foot is held in place by two or more rodsD. In this instance only two are shown. The lower end of each rod passes through the shoe and registers with a hole D in the table 13. Its upper end passes through the bushing D carried by the bracket D projecting from the cross-head A A spring D is interposed between the under face of the shoe and the bottom of the recess D This spring serves to normally hold the shoe in an elevated position clear of the table. Between the upper face of the shoe and the bushing D is another spring D The object of the latter spring is when pressed upon by the bushing moved by the descent of the crosshead to press the shoe upon the plate introduced between the members of the forming mechanism and to hold the plate in place It is obvious that the spring D must be considerably stronger than the spring D as the latter must be compressed to move the shoe toward the table.

A mechanism is mounted in the rear of the forming mechanism to carry away the lathing. Two guides E lead from the dies to the rubber-covered rolls E. The latter serve to carry the lathing from the machine. By being covered with rubber the rolls cannot inju re the projecting keys of thelathing. The rolls are driven by a train of gears leading from a gear on the lower of the feeding-in rolls to a gear mounted on the lower of the said carrying-away rolls.

In the process of making the lathing the metal is expanded, so that its superficial area after its leaves the dies is greatly increased. This increase varies with the character and quality of the metal. Under some conditions this increase is one hundred per cent. or more. Consequently the lathing travels faster in leaving the machine than the plate does in entering. Therefore the peripheral speed of the carrying-away rolls E must be greater than the peripheral speed of the feeding-in rolls. This is accomplished by means of suitable gearing or by making the diameters of the carrying-away rolls greater than those of the feeding-in rolls.

The operation of the device is as follows: After the machine has been started a blanlg sheet of metal is introduced between the feeding-in rolls. The latter intermittently feed theplate forward between the members of the forming mechanism. The cross -head descends and the gripper mechanism grasps the plate and holds it firmly. The rear row of cutters in the cross-head cut the first row of slits operating with the movable cutters in the lower member. Then the movable cutters are released by the cams and drop. The front row of cutters in the cross-head then operates with the fixed row of cutters in the lower member to cutthe second row of slits breaking joint with the first row of slits. As the cross-head moves downward and as the lower movable cutters have come to a rest, the ribs formed by slitting the metal, owing to the shape of the dies, are expanded. The crosshead is then raised by the operating mechanism, and the intermittently-operated feedrolls and carrying-away rolls draw the plate into and the lathing out of the machine. This operation is repeated until the entire plate has passed through the dies.

The hereinbefore-described embodiment of the invention is the preferred one, yet it can be departed from to a considerable extent without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Pair cut, is-

- 1. In a machine for making expanded n1etallic lathing, a die consisting of a double row of cutters, one of the said rows of cutters being movable relatively to the other row, and a second die cooperating with the firstmentioned die and having a row of cutters adapted to engage with and to move with said movable row of cutters of the first-mentioned die.

2. In a machine for making expanded metallic lathing, the combination of a moving member, a double row of cutters carried by said moving member, a fixed member, a row of immovable cutters mounted in said fixed member, and a row of movable cutters mounted in said fixed member adjacent to said row of immovable cutters.

3. In a machine for making expanded metallic lathing, the combination of a moving member, a double row of cutters carried by said moving members, a fixed member, a row of immovable cutters mounted in said fixed member, a row of movable cutters mounted in said fixed member adjacent to said immovable cutters, and means for intermittently moving said movable cutters mounted in the' fixed member.

4. In a machine for making expanded metallic lathing, the combination of a support, a row of immovable cutters mounted in said support, a row of movable cutters mounted in said support adjacent to said immovable cutters, means for moving said movable cutters to vary the relative positions of said immovable and movable cutters, and a cutting mechanism cooperating with said cutters.

5. In a machine for making expanded metallic lathing, the combination of a support, an adjustable holder carried by said support, cutters mounted in said holder and adapted to be held immovable thereby, a row of movable cutters mounted in said support adjacent to said immovable cutters, means for moving said movable cutters, and a cutting mechanism cooperating with said cutters.

6. In a machine for making expanded metallic lathing, the combination of a support, a row of immovable cutters mounted in said support, a movable holder carried by said support, a row of cutters mounted in said holder, means for intermittently moving said holder, and a cutting mechanism cooperating with said cutters.

7. In a machine for making expanded metallic lathing, the combination of a support, an adjustable holder carried by said support, cutters mounted in said adjustable holder and adapted to be held stationary thereby, a movable holder carried by said support, cutters mounted in said movable holder, means forintermittently moving said movable holder, and a cutting mechanism cooperating with said cutters.

8. In a machine for making expanded metallic lathing, the combination of a support, a row of immovable cutters mounted in said support, a movable holder carried by said support, a row of cutters mounted in said holder, a cam mechanism for intermittently moving said holder, and a cutting mechanism cooperating with said cutters.

9. In a machine for making expanded metallic lathing, the combination of a support, a row of immovable cutters mounted in said support, a movable holder carried by said support, a row of cutters mounted in said holder, an adjustable shoe carried by said holder, a rotatable cam adapted to engage with said shoe, and a cutting mechanism cooperating with said cutters.

10. In a machine for making expanded metallic lathing, the combination of a die consisting of a double row of fixed cutters, anda second die cooperating with the first-mentioned die consisting of a row of fixed cutters and a row of movable cutters.

11. In a machine for making expanded metallic lathing, the combination of a die having a row of cutters, a second die cooperating with the first-mentioned die provided with a row of movable cutters adapted to yield to and move with the first-mentioned cutters on the coming together of the dies, and means for regulating the movement of the said movable cutters.

12. In a machine for making expanded metallic lathing, the combination of a die consisting of a double row of cutters, and a second die cooperating with the first-mentioned die consisting of a double row of cutters, one of the rows of cutters of the second die being movable independently of the other row.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

\VILLIAM DUNCAN.

Witnesses:

ROBERT A. JAMES, AUGUST W. ROSINGER. 

